I've had a mishap - ground loop and ditch

[mhorowit]

Went out with an instructor for a BFR this morning. I completed all the tasks and on the last landing, the plane went off the runway and hit a ditch(about 3 feet deep and just as wide), about 75(?) feet to the left and parallel to the runway.
First two pieces of good news: We're OK; I got 7 stitches in my chin. The prop is unscared, which we take as a positive sign that the engine didn't take a hit.
The bad news is the wheels folded upwards (where they are at the moment) and bent several struts. I"ll advise the insurance co. in the morning, and go out to visit her for a more careful look on Tues.

I 'm worried the cost of repair might exceed what she was insured for (13,500).

It's late (2320) and I"m scared. I'm afraid I"m going to lose my ship if it's uneconomical to repair.

Anyone had an experience like this and how was it handled?

[ROllerton]

scared is for when you are in the hospital, and you dont know for homw many weeks or months.

Just consider it a challenge, how and where you will get your ship repaired. There is not much that can't be fixed.

Suggest you talk to AP or even Forrest in person on how the process goes and what your options are. When you are informed, you are in a better position to make decisions.

Glad to hear you are ok, even with the cosmetics. What did you hit your chin on?

bob.

[matsuthunder200]

Sorry to hear you bent up your plane. Am glad everyone is ok..... A frind of mine put on new hydrolic brakes and the first time out he flipped her on its back we thought that she was a total loss for shure. It happend about three years ago. we found all the parts to fix her up and she was flying again in less than a year. In fact she was in alot better shape than before. If you need any help finding parts let everyone here know and i bet we can find what you need .. also im going to go look at a project plane thinking of buying her just for parts...

[mhorowit]

Bob - apparently hit my chin on the dash.
Besides calling the insurance today, I need to review the rules on reporting 'incidents' . A quick read of NTSB supports the Airport Manager's suggestion that no report is required is correct.

Anyone know if any reporting to other than NTSB (by the owner/operator, that's me) is required? - Mike

[Hank Jarrett]

Darn it Mike, life just isn't fare. Don't worry about the repairs. I have seen several planes with the kind of damage you described. Don’t trash the struts even if they are bent (I’m sure they are) they’re like gold to homebuilders and you may want to use the end fittings to make up new ones with streamline tube. The factory says they are making new struts but they are much bigger than what you had on your bird. If the same size isn’t available you only need to go up ONE size. That has happened at the factory MANY times and the new rear struts are now bigger than my front ones. Check carefully for hidden damage, especially around the strut and gear attach fittings and along the lower longeron. Stick your head through the back of the headliner and look at EVERY INCH of those tubes. You may get lucky and not need to take the fabric off the fuselage. Check the wing spars and attach fittings very carefully. You probably loaded the wings in all sorts of unusual directions and could have split the spars. It isn’t an impossible job and when you are done the plane will be better than when you bought her. If the insurance tries to total her offer back the value of the engine to buy the “wreck”. They don’t want the expense of hauling it off and parting it out. Worst case you may be able to buy back the plane with paper for a few hundred bucks of the insurance pay out. Future insurance may be a bit more expensive. One of the unfortunate facts of life. Start shopping soon if they drop you and get “Non flight hangar insurance” while you rebuild. It’s cheap and gets you in the door with a new company. Sorry you are going to miss a great summer of flying. Got a buddy close you can fly with?
Hank

[mhorowit]

Hank - thanks for the words and advice. I had my heart set on flying to Alliance; probably drive now. - Mike

[Carl Ellis]

Mike -

When you do your rebuild be sure to put shoulder harnesses in. It's inexpensive and easy and can be done with just a log book entry. In another thread someone kindly posted a link to the FAA advisory circular on this matter.

- Carl -

[Carl Ellis]

Hi Mike -

Sorry to read about your trouble.

Any idea what happened? Any lessons to share?

- Carl -

[mhorowit]

Not really - we had slowed down to where the control surfaces had no effect, and the steering wasn't and neither were the brakes. Shoulder harnesess sounding real good. - Mike

[barnstmr]

Anyone had an experience like this and how was it handled?

Mike,
Not to take this list off into a huge debate over religion... but you asked....

I have experienced adversities many times and ALWAYS get through by the grace of God. Give thanks to Him for protecting you from death or more serious injury. Let Him be in control of what happens.. and surely he will answer your prayers.

In my dad's case....he had an accident with a 1929 antique airplane...wasn't injured, thank God. But demolished the wood spars in both wings requiring splice repairs and several new ribs. Also the landing gear folded up and tore up his rare bendix wheels 28 X 4. Prop strike also required engine change. He had only Liability insurance. That airplane had been a fixture in the family for more than 30 years. Through prayer... he was back flying in 9 months after a MAJOR rebuild of the airplane. I am convinced that God led him to find the scarce parts for repairs and sent several kind friends his way to help my dad out in his time of need.

"In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:6

[Dan Mahalak]

Ground loop

So sorry to hear about your mishap. Glad to hear everyone is okay....But did he sign off on your BFR?

Just this past weekend, I was garage going when I Discovered a fellow with a C-85 case, and an almost complete A-65 with a number of spare parts for a 46 bc 12-d.

Let me know If I can be of assisstance.
Sounds like the three point got ya. Slowly becoming a wheel landing guy.

Good luck.
Dan

[mhorowit]

Yeah, he signed my BFR. - Mike

[Carl Ellis]

Hi Mike -

I imagine that it all happened very fast.

But ... when I had got my tailwheel sign off the instructor the instructor ran me through a very good lesson.

We were practicing on a wide and relatively long grass strip. At a fairly fast taxi he would veer us off towards the weeds, blocking the rudder pedals, then say "your airplane". Finding that I had no rudder or tailwheel authority the best option was to fly it off.

- Carl -

[taylorcraftbc65]

Groundloop

Mike,
I am real sorry to hear of your accident, I agree with the others, it CAN be fixed, just take your time with the damage inspection, and, if possable, have several people do it, independantly. The more sets of eyes that look things over, the better the chance that everything will be found.
My prayers are with you, both to mend, and to get back where
you belong, in the sky.
Sabrina

[Steve Long]

Sorry to hear about your accident, Mike.

I had a Cessna 120 which got damaged in a windstorm here in Anchorage in Mar. 2003. I had it insured for $18,500. Only one wing was badly damaged but the adjustor asked if I would consider having it declared totaled. I was thinking of selling anyway, so told him to go ahead. The cost of repairing that one wing with new parts went about $13,000 and they estimated they could sell it for over 5K so that's what they did. I got to bid on it afterwards but bid only 4K and it went for 5K. The good part is with the money I got I went out and bought a T-Craft. I miss the old bird, but the T-Craft with floats is much nicer. Some cloues seem to have silver lingings. Good luck! Steve.